Post navigation

Observations @ 50 2016-07-13

So I got to witness one of life’s little tragedies today. Julie is out of town so I stopped by New Season to have some breakfast. As I am eating some scrambled eggs I over heard at the next table something that just makes me cringe.

There is a young fellow in his 20s with a woman of similar age. He is holding her hand. I can see he is nervous as hell. He says something to the line, “I’ve been meaning to tell you this for a while. I’m in love with you.” He looks up into her face and then she smiles.

Not the smile that says, “That is the greatest news I have ever heard. We are going to be together forever and have a wonderful life.” No… She gave him the smile that says, “Ahhh. Yeah… Ah.. Listen. Thats nice. Really. But…”

A moment later she lowers the boom. The fire in his eyes goes out. This is followed by something I consider far worse. She says, “You know Greg . That guy you work with in accounting? Well I’ve been sleeping with him. And I think I’m in love with him.”

Oh yeah, that great, I think. Why don’t you just shoot him while your at it. The only thing that’s worse than not getting the girl. Is knowing one of your coworkers is banging her. And she’s into him. Plus you have to work with him every fucking day. Every-time he smiles. You know he is thinking of her. Every-time his phone ring. Its probably her calling. Every weekend they’re together… Probably having the best sex anyone in all creation has ever had, and you… You’re home. Alone. Locked in an endless state of misery.

Welcome to your living hell. Population you. Rent is due at the first of the month.

So she gets up from the table with a, “We’ll talk later.” And walks off. This more or less mean, “I never want to see you again as long as I live. Because its going to be awkward now and… well, I don’t do awkward. I did say you were one of my best friends once. But that really means nothing in the long run. Its been fun. But I really don’t need you anymore. So have a nice life. Good bye.” And off she goes into he mist of time. He continues to sit there like the whole world has just ended.

I try to think of something to say here.

“Hey, what about the Pokemon Go thing. Neat huh?” Then I think, what if doesn’t have a smart phone? I’ll look like a moron.

In the end I say nothing. Finish my meal and put my dish in the cleaning tray. I know where he is now. I have been there a number of times myself. Its not a nice place. It scary. Its lonely. It hurts all the time. You’re heart has been shattered into a million tiny pieces. It’s gonna be long… long time before it’s whole once more. Before you can smile and mean it.

We’ve all been there one time or another. And we all come out of it. But we come out different. The person who went in, won’t be the one who comes out.

But for that moment. That brief painful moment. The world is never the same again.